Oakwell Farm Business Case Study

Case Study Summary
03
Oakwell Farm
The owners of Oakwell Farm re-examined their resources
and realised that their land could be better used to make an
increased profit. They created a thriving children’s nursery with
outdoor areas which educate, interest and stimulate little minds.
They also adopted sustainable technology and started to rent
out a under-used field to a local allotment group. These steps
have helped to maximise income and reduce operational costs.
Case Study Summary
03
Oakwell Farm
Business Benefits
Wider Benefits
• Rental income from a field increased tenfold by
allowing a local allotment group to work the land.
• Creating differing environments for the children to
explore increases biodiversity value of the farm.
•1
2 acres of accessible high quality greenspace
gives the nursery a competitive marketing edge.
• Allotment group helps reduce food miles and
strengthens local community bonds.
•S
taff value greenspace, this reduces turnover
and associated recruitment and training costs.
• Access to natural environments is profoundly
important in the development of young children.
“People are
increasingly conscious
of the need to eat
healthily and to
source locally grown
foods, this allotment
initiative is a very
important signpost for
the future.”
Fiona Hyslop, MSP for
Linlithgow.
Fomerly a dairy farm, the owners
decided to diversify activities and,
in 2001, they opened a children’s
nursery. One of the key reasons why
the business has gone from strength
to strength is the development of
the farm’s extensive greenspace for
natural play and exploration.
This asset is a unique selling point for
the enterprise and, despite its remote
location, the owners have seldom had
to advertise to fill places at the nursery.
This summary report is taken from a suite of case studies
which demonstrate that green network and green
infrastructure approaches can create a profit, save money
and create better solutions for businesses.
The full report for Oakwell can be downloaded from:
www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org
The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) will change
the face of Central Scotland by restoring and improving
the rural and urban landscape of the area.
For further information please contact:
Stephen Hughes, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager,
Central Scotland Green Network Support Unit.
[email protected]
Also a local allotment society rents a
field from the owners. This group now
provides the land-owners with ten
times the annual income which the
former tenant used to pay to graze
sheep there.